Pressure assisted fire extinguisher discharge valve



April 6, 1954 N. H. SIEBENS 2,674,326

PRESSURE ASSISTED FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1951 5 M Q m5 ma N N W. A M M R 0 N w M w\ mm m. hwww m a w a w? Ll E m Q R. 3 h Q N w a h QN g .flm w QM 3 A %N\ N Q ww 1 R A TTORNEX April 6, 1954 N. SIEBENS ,3

PRESSURE ASSISTED FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE VALVE Filed July 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN T0 re. NORM/4N H. 5153 EMS Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PRESSURE ASSISTED FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE VALVE Norman H. Siebens, Cedar Grove, N. J., assignor to C-O-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J

Application July 21, 1951, Serial No. 237,928

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishing and particularly to an improved discharge valve for a container or hose line supply.

It is important in the discharge of a large quantity of fire extinguishing fluid under comparatively high pressure that the discharge valve be easily manipulatable by the operator in confined locations. Prior devices have, in some cases, utilized the stored pressure to open and close the main valve. While generally satisfactory, difliculty has been occasionally had with the prior devices, such as under conditions of low temperatur operation, in which the valve has become frozen and has become inoperative by the usual pressure mechanism.

This invention aims to overcome the diiiiculties and disadvantages of prior pressure operated valves by providing a discharge valve utilizing both manual and pressure operation and in which one mode of operation assists the other rendering the valve easy in operation. A discharge valve construction is provided which overcomes the ordinary freeze up troubles in that it may be freed by manual manipulation in the event the pressure is too low to operate the valve mechanism.

Another object of th invention is to provide a fire extinguisher discharge valve which is simple and economical in manufacture, efficient in operation, and durable in use.

In accordance with the invention the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a pressure operated valve in which the valve member is normally held against its seat by inlet pressure against its operating surface, the pressure being releasable from one side of a piston member sothat the pressure against the other side thereof causes the opening of the valve member. A construction is utilized in which manual pilot operating means is also arranged to manually operate the main valve so that even under conditions of no pressure, the main valve may be opened by the manual operating means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a discharge valve in accordance with the invention having a housing suitable for an attachment for a container of fire extinguishing fluid.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a discharge valve in accordance with the invention having a housing suitable for attachment to a hose line for fire extinguishing fluid.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a discharge valve I having a housing 2 adapted to be threadedly engaged in. thesneck 3 of a container for fire extinguishing fluid illustrated with the body thereof broken away. The valve 1 includes a main valve member 4 adapted to engage a main valve seat 5, the valve member being normally held against its seat by fluid pressure against the face of a piston 6. The pressure against the face of the piston 6 holding the valve member 4 against its seat is releasable by a pilot valve 1 which may be actuated by an operating rod 9. The extinguisher is supported by the carrying handle It! and is operated by one hand of the operator by movement of a squeeze grip handle ll towards the carrying handle Ill. The squeeze grip handle II has a projection l2 on its under surface to engage the outer end of the operating rod 9.

The housing 2 is preferably formed with a pair of vertically and horizontally intersecting passages I4 and I5. A valve chamber I6 is formed at the intersection of the passages. The valve seat 5 is formed on the wall of the valve chamber about the horizontal passage [5 and divides the fluid passage into an inlet portion I1 and an outlet portion 19. An outlet opening 2|) is provided for any desired connection which may be made to the valve housing 2. At the lower end of the inlet passage [4 is a siphon tube 2| adapted to reach towards the bottom of a container 22. At the upper end of the vertical inlet passage I4 is a safety disc 24 secured by a plug 25 made with opposed recoil preventing passages 2B.

The valv member 4 is provided with an annular recess on its face to receive a suitable seating material 2'! such as Corprene, nylon, or equivalent seating materials for leak proof contact with the valve seat 5. The base of the valve member 4 is used to form the piston 6 which is made of a size to slide in one end of the horizontal passage l5 to utilize it as a cylinder 29. It should be noted that the effective area of the piston 6 is made somewhat greater than the effective area of the main valve seat 5 for a purpose as will later appear in connection with the explanation of the operation of the valve. The end of the cylinder 29 is closed by a cap member 30 threadedly engaged with the end of the cylinder wall. A leak proof seal is provided by a gasket 3|. The piston valve member 46 is provided with a fluid release passage 32 extending from the face of the piston 6 to the face of the valve member 4. The fluid release passage 32 is extended through and beyond th valve seat 5 by a tubular member 34 threadedly engaged with the body of the valve member 4 as indicated at 35 to secure an annular washer 36 against the edge of the seating material 21 to retain it in position in its recess.

The piston end of the fluid release passage 32 is enlarged to threadedly receive a retaining member 39. A valve seat 40 is formed about the fluid release passage 32 for engagement by the pilot release I. A gasket recess M is formed in the skirt of the piston B to receive a packing 42 in turn secured in position in its recess by a flange 44 of the retaining member 39. The retaining member 39 formed with a passage 45 to receive the pilot valve I, the outer end of the passage 45 being reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder 46 to limit the movement of the pilot release valve I away from its seat 40. Th outer end of the retaining member 39 is formed with a skirt 41 of a diameter to slide within the inner surface of the cap member 30. Fluid passageways 49 are provided through the retaining member 39 to permit free exhaust flow of pressure fluid to the valve seat 40. The skirt 41 is apertured as indicated at 48a to vent the end of the cylinder 29 for the opening movement of the piston-valve member 46.

Fluid passage means for pressurizing fluid to hold the piston-valve member 45 against its seat are provided as indicated at 49 through the housing 2 to an annular fluid passage space 50 formed in the end of the housing and in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid passages in the cap member 30, all of which terminate in an outlet pressurizing fluid passage 52 positioned opposite the face of the piston 6. The inner side of the cap member is formed with a projecting portion 54 which acts as the wall for the outlet passage 52 and, further, provides a support 56 for main valve spring 51. A reduced portion of the projecting portion 54 provides a support 59 for a spring 60 adapted to urge th pilot valve member I against its seat 40. On the under side of the pilot release valve I is a. valve member GI with a pointed end 62 adapted to guide the valve member into the outlet 52 as the pilot valve I is unseated. This construction, in which the valv member 6| has a reduced portion 64 slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the outlet 52, assures the practical closing of the pressurizing fluid passage 52 as the valve member I is moved into the open position. The diameter of the outlet 52 is made small compared with the opening of the pilot valve pressure release seat 40 to assure the positive operation of the main valve 5 upon the opening of the pilot valve 1.

The operating rod 9 has a reduced portion 55 so as to provide minimum restriction to the passage of fluid through the fluid release passage 92. The operating rod 9 is attached to the valve member 'I by any suitable construction such as by threaded engagement therewith orit may be manufactured integrally therewith. Leakage past the operating rod 9 is prevented by a packing 66 positioned in packing recess 61 and secured by a packing nut 69. The operation of the squeeze grip handle I I may be restricted by a pin II which may be held in position by the usual sealing wire (not shown) to discourage unauthorized actuation of the valve and to provide an indication of its operation by the breaking of the sealing wire.

In use the valve I is pressurized by fluid from the inlet portion I! which passes through fluid passages 49, 50, 5|, and 52 to the face of the piston 6 to assist the spring 51 in urging the valve member 4 against its valv seat 5. The pilot release valve 1 is pressure seated by the fluid in the cylinder 29 assisted by the spring 60, and the main valve 5 is also pressure seated by the fluid in the cylinder 29 assisted by the spring 51. In

order to discharge the valve I, the squeeze grip handle I I is moved downward towards the carrying handle I0 so that the projection I2 abuts against the end of the operating rod 9 which moves the pilot valve I away from its seat 40 so as to release pressure from the cylinder 29. Thus, by reason of the greater effective area of the piston 5 as against the effective area encompassed by the valve seat 5, the action of the fluid pressure against the back of the piston 6 causes the opening of the main valve 4 and simultaneously the valve member BI is moved so that its pointed end 62 is extended into the outlet 52 so as to prevent the flow of an appreciable amount of fluid into the cylinder 29 to increase the pressure thereof. The pressure drop across the valve seat 5 is used advantageously by providing the tubular member 34 to cause a reduced pressure within the cylinder 29 as compared to the pressure against the back of the piston 6 tending to hold the piston valve member 4-6 in the open position as long as the pilot valv member I is held off its seat 40. Upon the release of the squeeze grip handle II the operating rod 9 is urged outwardly by the action of the springs 51 and 60 simultaneously allowing the pilot valve I to engage its seat 40 and withdrawing the valve member 64 from the passage 62 so that the inlet fluid pressure quickly builds up in the cylinder 29 against the face of th piston 6 to cause the valve 4 to assume the closed position. In the event the presure within the container 22 has dropped or in the event that because of rapid intermittent operation of the valve 5 freeze up has occurred, the pressure operation of the valve may be assisted by th use of manual force supplied to the squeeze grip handle I I. In this case the pilot valve I is moved away from its seat so as to abut against the shoulder 46, further pressure on the squeeze grip handle II causing the shoulder 46 and with it the valve member 4 to move inwardly. In this way the manual force plus the pressure available is sufiicient to provide for the opening of the valve member. Of course, it should be kept in mind that under conditions of reduced pressure, the amount of force required to unseat the valve member 4 would obviously drop.

In Figure 2 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which corresponding parts are designated by the same numerals as in Figure 1 with the addition of 100. In Figure 2 the valve IOI differs primarily from the valve I in that the valve IN is provided with a housing I02 adapted to be connected to a hose or pipe I03 for the supply of a fire extinguishing fluid. The operation of the valve IOI is the same as for the valve I, an additional feature being provided, however, in that the operating rod I09 is provided with a washer I secured by a pin IBI so that the operating rod may be pulled out by outward movement of the squeeze grip handle I I I so as to manually close the valve I05 in the event it should freeze or stick in the open position.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention, for example, while the piston in valve member 46 has been described as made integrally, it is obvious that the parts might be made separately. Likewise, while the operating rod 9 has been described and illustrated as passing through the piston-valve member 4-6, it'is obvious that equivalent constructions might be utilized in which the operating rod is positioned at one side of the valve member with an extension for manipulation of the parts in accordance with the disclosure made herein. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A flre extinguisher discharge valve comprising a housing having a'main fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the main fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is adapted to be held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, pilot valve vent means for the fluid acting against the face of the piston, pressurizing valve seat means about the pressurizing fluid passage, and pressurizing valve means to engage the pressurizing valve seat to close the pressurizing fluid passage upon the opening of the pilot valve.

2. A fire extinguisher discharge valve comprising a housing having a main fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is adapted to be held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, the main valve having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, a pilot valve seat about the passage, a pilot valve mem ber to engage the pilot valve seat, a pressurizing fluid valve member carried by the pilot valve member, outlet means for the pressurizing fluid passage means positioned opposite the pressurizing fluid valve member, and a pressurizing fluid valve seat about the pressurizing fluid outlet for engagement by the pressurizing fluid valve member upon the opening of the pilot valve.

3. A fire extinguisher discharge valve eomprising a housing having a fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is adapted to be held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, the main valve having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, means extending the pilot fluid passage through the main valve seat, a pilot valve seat about the passage, a pilot valve member to engage the pilot valve seat, a pressurizing fluid valve member carried by the pilot valve member, and outlet means for the pressurizing fluid passage means positioned opposite the pressurizing fluid valve member, whereby upon the opening of the pilot valvethe pressurizing valve is closed. a 4. A flre extinguisher discharge valve compris- 6 ing a housing having a fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a. piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, the main valve member and the piston having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, a pilot valve seat about the pilot fluid passage, a pilot valve member to engage the pilot valve seat, retaining means in the piston and main valve member to limit the movement of the pilot valve member from its seat, and an operating rod extending from the housing and adapted to unseat the pilot valve member to move it against the retaining means and upon further movement to unseat the main valve member.

5. A fire extinguisher discharger valve comprising a housing having a fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciproeable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, the main valve member and the piston having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, a pilot valve seat about the pilot fluid passage, a pilot valve member to engage the pilot valve seat, means providing a shoulder about the passage in the piston and main valve member to limit the movement of the pilot valve member from it seat, and an operating rod extending from the housing and adapted to unseat the pilot valve member to move it against the shoulder and upon further movement to unseat the main valve memher.

6. A fire extinguisher discharge valve comprising a housing having a fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face 7 of the piston so that the main valve member is held against its seat by pressure against the face -f the piston, the main valve member and the piston having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, a pilot valve seat about the pilot fluid passage, a pilot valve member to engage the pilot valve seat, retaining means in the piston and main valve member to limit the movement of the pilot valve member from its seat, and an operating rod extending from the housing and attached to the pilot valve member and adapted upon an inner movement to unseat the pilot valve member to move it against the retaining means and upon further movement to unseat the main valve me ber and thereafter upon an outward movement to seat both the pilot and main valves.

7. A fire extinguisher discharge valve comprising a "housing having a. fluid. i passage. there: through, main valve seat a means: defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member, pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, the main valve member and the piston having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, a pilot valve seat about the pilot fluid passage, a pilot valve member to engage the pilot valve seat, retaining means in the piston and main valve member to limit the movement of the pilot valve member from its seat, an operating rod extending from the housing and adapted to unseat the pilot valve member to move it against the retaining means and upon further movement to unseat the main valve member, a pressurizing valve member carried by the pilot valve member, and outlet means for the fluid passage means positioned op-- posite the pressurizing fluid valve member so that upon the opening of the pilot valve member the pressurizing valve member is adapted to close the outlet of the pressurizing fluid passage, whereby the action of the operating rod is assisted by the pressure.

8. A fire extinguisher discharge valve comprising a housing having a fluid passage therethrough, main valve seat means defining inlet and outlet portions of the fluid passage, a main valve member adapted to engage the main valve seat from the inlet side, means in alignment with the main valve member forming a cylinder in the housing, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder to actuate the main valve member. pressurizing fluid passage means leading from the inlet to the face of the piston so that the main valve member is held against its seat by pressure against the face of the piston, the main valve member and the piston having a pilot fluid passage therethrough, means extending the pilot fluid passage through the main valve seat into the outlet so that under fluid flow conditions there is an increased pressure differential, a pilot valve seat about the pilot fluid passage, a pilot valve member to engage the pilot valve seat, retaining means in the piston and main valve member to limit the movement of the pilot valve member from its seat, an operating rod extending from the housing and adapted to unseat the pilot valve member to move it against the retaining means and upon further movement to unseat the main valve member, a pressurizing valve member carried by the pilot valve member, and outlet means for the fluid passage means positioned opposite the pressurizing fluid valve member so that upon the opening of the pilot valve member the pressurizing valve member is adapted to close the outlet of the pressurizing fluid passage, whereby the action of the operating rod is assisted by the pressure.

9. A fire extinguisher discharge valve comprising a housing, a piston-actuated main valve member normally pressurized by inlet pressure acting against both ends of the piston, the effective area of the piston in the closing direction greater than its effective area in the opening direction so that the main valve is normally closed, pilot valve means carried by the main valve member to release the pressure from one end of the piston for the opening thereof under pressure from its other end, an operating rod having a manual operating end extending from 8 the housing and having its other end operatively engaging the pilot valve means, and a mechanical interconnection between the operating rod and the main valve member so that upon a predetermined length of travel of the operating rod the pilot valve member is opened and upon further travel of the operating rod the main valve member is opened, the action of the operating rod is adapted to assist pressure tending to open the main valve.

10. A discharge valve for a container of fire extinguishing fluid comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the top of the container, the housing formed with intersecting horizontal and vertical cross passages, the intersection of the passages forming a valve chamber, a main valve seat formed on one wall of the valve chamber about the horizontal passage defining inlet and outlet portions thereof, a main valve member in the valve chamber adapted to engage the main valve seat, a piston formed of the base of the main valve member, a cylinder formed in the inlet portion of the horizontal passage, means providing a pressurizing fluid passage from the inlet portion of the passage to the face of the piston and terminating opposite the face of the piston, means providing a release fluid passage through the piston and main valve member to the outlet portion of the passage for the release of fluid from the face of the piston, a valve seat for said fluid passage, a pressure seated pilot valve to engage the release fluid passage valve seat, restraining means carried by the piston limiting movement of the pilot valve away from its seat, and an operating rod extending outwardly from the housing through the outlet portion of the horizontal passage and attached to the pilot valve, whereby the pressure in the inlet assists the operating rod in opening and closing the main valve.

11. A discharge valve for a fire extinguishing agent hose line comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the hose line, the housing formed with intersecting horizontal and vertical cross passages, the intersection of the passages forming a valve chamber, a main valve seat formed on one wall of the valve chamber about the vertical passage defining inlet and outlet portions thereof, a main valve member in the valve chamber adapted to engage the main valve seat, a piston formed of the base of the main valve member, a cylinder formed in the inlet portion of the vertical passage, means providing a pressurizing fluid passage from the inlet portion of the passage to the face of the piston and terminating opposite the face of the piston, means providing a release fluid passage through the piston and main valve member to the outlet portion of the passage for the release of fluid from the face of the piston, a valve seat for said fluid passage, a pressure seated pilot valve to engage the release fluid passage valve seat, restraining means carried by the piston limiting movement of the pilot valve away from its seat, and an operating rod extending outwardly from the housing through the outlet portion of the vertical passage and attached to the pilot valve, whereby the pressure in the inlet assists the operating rod in opening and closing the main va ve,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

